Storm chasers are drawn to storms like tornadoes and hurricanes. They find them, track them, analyze them, and try to understand them. But they can’t control storms. Real storm chasers keep a respectful distance—except for one.
There’s one Storm Chaser whose approach is totally different from all others. He occupies the storm, works inside of it, and protects those who have already been hit. Storms are helpless in the face of this Storm Chaser.
I’m talking about our Lord Jesus Christ. He is a specialist when it comes to storms in our lives. Thankfully, most people will never experience a really big storm—but many Christians feel like they’ve experienced the spiritual equivalent. The only way to survive the storms of life is to seek the presence of the Storm Chaser, and whether He stills the storm or escorts you safely through it, there is no safer place to be than with Him.
Because of technology, rarely is anyone totally surprised by a storm today. Spiritually, though, it’s easy to be deceived into complacency. Paul warned, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). The Christian who thinks he is immune to the storms of life is the one most likely to get a good soaking.
In Jesus’ day, there were no instruments to measure changes in the atmosphere. You could be enjoying a sunny day and suddenly find yourself in the midst of a storm—which happened to Jesus and His disciples (Mark 4:35-41). They got in a boat and “suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea” (Matthew 8:24).
Another time the disciples were caught in a storm on the sea, and Jesus saw their predicament from miles away. “The boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing” (Mark 6:47-48). There is no distance or darkness which keeps Him from seeing storms approaching His disciples—then or now.
The Storm Chaser has promised He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We often assume that because Jesus is with us, He will automatically still the storm. But that doesn’t always happen. When Jesus was with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, He fell asleep in the stern of the boat, and the disciples were getting anxious. The boat was filling with water. Jesus was with them but was doing nothing to save them.
Jesus’ presence with us doesn’t guarantee our physical comfort or quick resolution. It does mean that He is completely aware of our situation and will respond in a way that accomplishes His purposes. In the disciples’ case, they needed to learn to face the future with faith in Him: “He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’” (Mark 4:40) The Storm Chaser brings all storms to an end. We must learn to trust Him with the when and how.
The disciples learned that the Storm Chaser is never far from the storms we are in. He will handle our storms in different ways at different times. Our greatest need is not for the storm to end but to have faith in Him while the storm is raging. Storms are a normal part of life, and the wise disciple prepares himself for them.
It was Jesus who said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). But He meant that with Him, we could have abundant life despite the storms. Are you prepared for life with a biblical worldview? If so, you are prepared for the storms. Jesus promises your life can be abundant. Our task is to discover His presence amid storms.
Modern storm chasers can’t stop the storms they chase. But you can be on the side of a Storm Chaser who can if you know Him. If you have never met Jesus Christ, you can cry out for Him above the howling winds that are buffeting you this very hour, and He will come to you. I encourage you to call upon Him by faith today.
And if you already know the Storm Chaser, know that He is with you always. In the center of the storm, His peace is clearly seen. Reach out, take His hand, and ride out the storm with Him. The storm will end, but you must let Him decide how and when.
David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church and the founder and host of Turning Point for God. For more information about Dr. Jeremiah or Turning Point, visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.
